Red Afghan Sarasar Kazak Rug
This red Afghan Sarasar Kazak rug was double hand-knotted in Afghanistan from lamb’s wool and measures 214 x 147 cm, about 3.1 square metres. Its deep red field carries three large medallions down the centre, framed by a wide cream border with blue and red motifs.
The design up close
The field is a deep, even red. Three large medallions stack down the centre. The top and bottom ones are octagonal, with cream outlines, navy and orange centres and navy fronds reaching out from their sides. The middle medallion is a blue star with a white heart, flanked by pale teardrop shapes in cream and navy. In this red Afghan Sarasar Kazak rug the medallions are the strongest part of the design.
Small cream rosettes and orange diamonds with a cross at the centre fill the red between the medallions. Beside each medallion, cream and navy hooked motifs stand upright, and these small shapes break up the red so the field does not look flat.
The border is ivory, with rows of small red, blue and orange motifs and a thin navy guard stripe between it and the field. Outside that, a narrow band of blue and red finishes the edge. Against warm timber or neutral walls, the cream border makes the outline of this red Afghan Sarasar Kazak rug read clearly.
Where Kazak rugs come from
The name comes from the Kazak (Gazakh) district of the southern Caucasus, on the borders of today’s Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia. Weavers there made thick, boldly coloured rugs with large geometric medallions, stars and hooked motifs in deep reds, blues and ivory. In recent decades, weavers in Afghanistan and Pakistan have revived those designs, so the old patterns continue in newer rugs.
How it is made
Weavers tie every knot by hand on a loom, one knot at a time, and build each medallion row by row. This red Afghan Sarasar Kazak rug is double hand-knotted in lamb’s wool, so the pile stands close and dense.
The knots are slightly irregular, which is typical of handwork on a rug like this. Up close, the curves of the navy outlines are built from small steps, the way knotted patterns always are.
Sizing a red Afghan Sarasar Kazak rug for your room
At 214 x 147 cm the rug is under a 2.6 m run, so it is best placed in front of a sofa, with the front legs of the sofa and two armchairs resting on it around a coffee table. The width of 147 cm is close to the 153 cm of a queen bed, so the rug can sit at the foot of a queen bed without going past its sides.
The busy pattern hides everyday wear, so this red Afghan Sarasar Kazak rug suits living rooms and family rooms as well as entrances. The area is about 3.1 square metres.
Looking after your rug
Vacuum it on a suction-only setting, or with the beater bar switched off, so the brush does not pull at the knots. Turn it around every six to twelve months so sun and foot traffic wear it evenly. Blot spills with a clean white cloth and cold water rather than rubbing them in. When it needs a full clean, choose a cleaner who washes handmade rugs by hand.
Put a good underlay beneath it. It stops the rug sliding on timber or tiles, adds cushioning and takes some of the wear off the pile. Moths like wool in dark, quiet spots, such as the part of a rug under a sofa, so vacuum those areas often and lift the furniture now and then.
See it before you buy
Visit our showroom at 307 Penshurst St, North Willoughby, open every day from 11 am to 4:30 pm, to see this red Afghan Sarasar Kazak rug in person. If you would rather judge it in your own room, with your own light and furniture, book an in-home viewing and we will bring a selection to you.
Browse more Kazak Rugs, or ask about a custom made rug in your own size and colour. Read more about Caucasian and Kazak rugs.
